Obama gets advice on working with nonprofits

January 15, 2009

The National Council for Nonprofits has submitted recommendations to President-elect Barack Obama's transition team to help the federal government and nonprofits work together more effectively.

The suggestions also would help nonprofits overcome financial difficulties presented by surging demand and dwindling resources.

"The nonprofit sector remains committed to providing as much relief as possible to those in need," the report says. "However, despite the purest intentions and the strongest dedication, community nonprofits cannot continue to do so much more with so much less for very much longer."

The economic crisis could wipe out as many as 100,000 nonprofits within the next six months, says public-service expert Paul Light.

The council made the following recommendations:

• Create a Social Entrepreneurship Agency for Nonprofits to help strengthen smaller community organizations
• Maximize budget relief for state and local governments to prevent additional budget cuts
• Establish a Community Services Protection Fund to invest in nonprofits that perform work traditionally done, or funded by, the government
• Eliminate the distinction between the Standard Business Mileage Rate of 58.5 cents per mile and the Charitable Mileage Rate of 14 cents so paid workers and volunteers get the same tax benefits for travel
• Encourage the American people to speak out through nonprofits

The National Council of Nonprofits is a network of more than 20,000 state and regional nonprofits that works to facilitate collaboration and the free flow of idea

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